Showing papers by "Robert G. Biskeborn published in 2014"

Magnetic tape media having servo patterns

Abstract: Magnetic tape media according to one embodiment includes a servo track having a plurality of servo marks therealong. A distance of the servo marks, as originally written, from an edge of the tape media varies along the length of the magnetic tape media. Magnetic tape media according to another embodiment includes a plurality of servo tracks having physical characteristics of being written by an apparatus that monitors a lateral position of the magnetic tape media passing over a servo writing head during a servo track writing operation and writes servo marks to the magnetic tape media. A timing of the writing of each servo mark is based on the monitored position of the magnetic tape media.

Differing magnetic read sensors on a magnetic head

Abstract: An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a magnetic head having multiple magnetic transducers, the transducers including read sensors. The read sensors are of at least two differing types selected from a group consisting of tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), giant magnetoresistance (GMR), anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR), and inductive sensors.

Multichannel data storage apparatus having abrasion resistant barrier

Abstract: An apparatus for magnetic recording having a barrier layer. One embodiment includes a magnetic head having an array of sensors, each of the sensors having a media facing surface. A barrier layer is positioned above at least the media facing surfaces of the sensors. The barrier layer includes at least one at least partially polycrystalline layer.

Low friction tape head

Abstract: A magnetic head according to one embodiment includes outer portions each having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers; a central portion positioned between the outer portions, the central portion having a tape bearing surface and an array of transducers selected from a group consisting of readers and writers; wherein outer edges of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions are non-skiving, wherein an inner edge of each of the tape bearing surfaces of the outer portions is adapted for skiving air from the magnetic medium when the magnetic medium travels in a direction from the central portion towards the respective outer portion.

Tape media kiss-contact read verification

Abstract: A supplemental module that includes one or more read elements periodically engages a magnetic recording medium, and the read elements generate an electrical signal corresponding to transitions written to the magnetic recording medium by a write element. A computer receives information representative of the electrical signal and determines if a quality metric of the magnetic recording medium derived from the electrical signal is within a defined range. If the quality metric is not within the defined range, a defined action is performed by the computer.

Quasi-statically tilted head having dilated transducer pitch

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes reading and/or writing data to a magnetic medium using a head having an array of transducers. An axis of the array is defined between opposite ends thereof, and is tilted at an angle greater than 0° from a line oriented perpendicular to an intended direction of tape travel thereacross during the reading and/or writing. The method further includes at least one of: introducing, by a controller, a timing offset to at least one servo channel to compensate for offset in servo readback signals introduced by the tilt of the head, introducing, by the controller, a timing offset to at least some read channels to compensate for offset in readback signals introduced by a tilt of the head, and introducing, by the controller, a timing offset to at least some write channels to enable writing of transitions that are readable by a non-tilted head.

Mass production of multichannel current perpendicular to plane head modules via preferred milling

Abstract: A process according to one embodiment includes milling a media facing surface of a module having an array of sensors at a first angle, and milling the media facing surface of the magnetic head module at a second angle, not necessarily in that order. After the milling at the first and second angles, the media facing surface of the module is milled at a third angle between 55 degrees and 65 degrees from normal. An apparatus according to one embodiment includes a tape head module having an array of at least eight current perpendicular to plane sensors, wherein none of the sensors has a resistance more than about 10% away from the resistances of its nearest neighbors.

Magnetic recording head having quilted-type coating

Abstract: A module according to one embodiment includes a plurality of transducers; a tape bearing surface having a transducer region aligned with the transducers in a tape travel direction, and outer regions flanking the transducer region in a direction perpendicular to the tape travel direction; a first coating on the transducer region of the tape bearing surface; and a second coating on at least one of the outer regions of the tape bearing surface, the second coating being different than the first coating.

Head with supplemental module for backward and/or cross-platform compatibility

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one first module configured for writing and/or reading data to and from a magnetic medium in a first format and/or first generation and writing data to the magnetic medium in a second format and/or second generation that is different than the first format and first generation. The apparatus also includes a supplemental module coupled to the first module, the supplemental module being configured for reading a magnetic medium having data written in the second format and/or the second generation.

Magnetic storage device with multiple read element arrays to determine quality of recorded data

Abstract: Determining quality metrics of recorded data on a magnetic recording medium. Each of two or more read element arrays include one or more read elements, each including a sensor. Each array differs from the other arrays in one or more construction characteristics such that each array has a different sensitivity to one or more characteristics of magnetic transitions recorded on a magnetic recording medium. Each array produces respective electrical signals that are characteristic of magnetic transitions recorded on a magnetic recording medium. A computer receives information from the electrical signals and analyzes the signal information to determine one or more values associated with one or more quality metrics of the magnetic transitions.

Secure storage system

Abstract: A storage system includes a plurality of drives that write and read data to and from removable storage media communicatively connected to a storage controller. The storage controller receives comprehensible data and divides the comprehensible data into the plurality of data segments comprising the plurality of data units, manipulates one or more of the plurality of data units within each data segment to form the plurality of unintelligible data segments, generates a decoding key based upon the division and the manipulation, and sends each respective unintelligible data segment to the plurality of drives to store upon the removable storage media. The comprehensible data includes a sufficient number of data units arranged in an order of inherent meaning and the unintelligible data segments include an insufficient number of data units to be comprehensible arranged in an order such that the unintelligible data segments are incomprehensible.

Bonded alumina coating for stainless steel

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an alumina-based layer structure having transition regions between layers is disclosed. The method may include ion milling a stainless steel structure surface to partially reduce a metal oxide layer from, and create an exposed portion of, the surface. The method may include oxidizing the exposed portion of the surface to form a crystallized metal oxide bonding layer, growing a crystallized alumina layer onto the metal oxide bonding layer, and diffusing metal from the surface into the crystallized alumina layer, to form a graded aluminate spinel layer. The method may include forming a first transition region from the graded aluminate spinel layer to a crystalline alumina layer, growing the crystalline alumina layer from the first transition region, forming a second transition region from the crystalline alumina layer to an amorphous alumina layer, and growing the amorphous alumina layer from the second transition region.

Tape head module and data storage system

Abstract: The invention relates a tape head module and data storage system. A module according to one embodiment includes an array of N piggyback or merged first data transducers positioned towards a media facing surface of the module; and M second data transducers interleaved with the array of piggyback or merged data transducers, wherein the second data transducers are single data transducers, at least some of the data transducers being coupled to pads. A module according to another embodiment includes an array of N first data transducers positioned towards a media facing surface of the module, the first data transducers including at least one of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof; and M second data transducers interleaved with the array of first data transducers, the second data transducers including at least one of data readers, data writers, and combinations thereof, wherein less than all of the first and/or second data transducers are coupled to pads.

Methods for biasing electrically biasable structures

Abstract: A method according to one embodiment includes biasing, by a biasing circuit, an electrically conductive structure to a predefined and/or selected voltage. A resistive link is coupled to both the biasing circuit and the electrically conductive structure, the electrically conductive structure being positioned proximate to a media hearing surface. A method according to another embodiment includes biasing, by a biasing circuit, a conductive bus to a predefined and/or selected voltage, the conductive bus being coupled to at least one of a plurality of transducers and a plurality of electrically conductive structures. Resistive links are electrically coupled between the conductive bus and the electrically conductive structures and/or the transducers.

Tunnel Valve Sensors in Contact Recording

Abstract: Results of experiments in which hard-disk drive (HDD) tunnel valve (TV) sensors were run in continuous contact with magnetic recording tape are presented. In one mode, suspended HDD sliders were run against tape backed by a supporting air film in a novel configuration. In another, tape was run in an air-skiving mode over HDD rowbars mounted on support beams, similar to the way tape wraps a conventional tape head. The data indicate that HDD TV sensors can successfully operate in continuous contact with running tape media. Measurements show that roughness of older generation metal particle tape limits the signal-to-noise ratio achievable using existing narrow HDD TV sensors. However, TV sensors optimized for running on smoother barium ferrite tape are now a viable candidate for future high areal density tape recording platforms.